Some Dos & Don'ts

* Be careful not to use your spoon, fork or hands being used for your eating, cooking utensils for the serving dish. Do not eat from other people’s plate and do not drink from other people’s bottle or glass. It is considered ‘Jutho’ or impure by Nepalese.

* Never touch anything with your feet. This is considered an offence among Nepalese.

* Seek permission first before entering a Hindu temple. Many Hindu temples do not allow westerns to enter.

* Take photographs only after receiving permission for the object or person being photographed.

* Never spit around temple premises.

* Always touching offerings or person when they are on the way to religious shrines.

* Avoid kissing and hugging in public especially between men and women. It is taken as a social offence in most of the areas of the country.

* Maintain safe distance while talking to women in Nepal.

* Food & Etiquette Food or drink touched by the lips or tongue becomes JUTHO. You cannot give it to anyone else or return it to the common pot.

* Don't touch any cooked food, unless it has been given to you to eat. It is all right to touch uncooked food such as fruits and raw vegetables.

* Don't put more food on your plate than you can eat as Nepalese believe that the food should be respected, not thrown away. Once your lips or tongue has touched the food placed on your plate, it is considered polluted.

* Touching a person who is performing PUJA (worship) in the temple or in the worshipping room makes him JUTHO. He/she cannot continue PUJA without purifying themselves by taken a shower.

* Nepali does not use their left hand while giving or receiving something. The left hand is considered to be inauspicious and ritually impure as it is used for cleaning after defecating. The left hand can be used for giving, receiving or passing things if the right hand is soiled from eating. Otherwise use only your right hand for eating or handing over an object. It is a sign of respect to give or receive things with both hands. Nepalese extend their right hand out and hold onto the right forearm with the left hand as they offer a accept object.